What can you do to keep your resume out of the "Black Hole"?

1. Apply only to those jobs where you possess 85% or more of the requirements

2. Customize each resume to include every key word that is mentioned in the job description

3. Develop a headline that provides a "wow factor", uniquely defining your area of expertise

4. Create 3 or 4 key sentences at the top of your resume to highlight your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)

5. Focus on promotions, results and direct contributions, not responsibilities and tasks

The second question, and the one rarely considered, is: what can you do to ease the pain of the HR professional?

1. Focus on securing an introduction to the company through a mutual colleague; contact the hiring manager and/or HR professional to leverage the contact and get yourself on the radar screen

2. Clearly indicate how your skills match up with the job requirements - don't make them search for your relevant skills

3. If you are unable to secure an introduction, call the HR professional and/or hiring manager 2 days after sending your resume, to ensure it was received; during this call, acknowledge that you are aware of the volume of resumes they have received, and request "5 minutes to provide 3 factors" that will demonstrate your fit for the position

4. Send a thank you/follow up card by mail to the HR and/or hiring manager reminding them of the "3 factors"

5. Develop a campaign to follow up with the HR and/or hiring manager on a weekly basis

Posted by oceanflash08 

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Guest Contributor:Ken C. Schmitt
Turning Point Executive Search 

Recently, I received a number of requests on how to deal with less formal uses of address. It seems like most forms of address have become extremely relaxed over the years to the point of being disrespectful. I maintain that this is a direct generational response by parents reacting to their own upbringing. Whatever the reason, the end result diminishes the respect shown to one another in subtle ways, which reflects an attitude of laziness, inappropriate familiarity and just plain rudeness.

One reader stated:

"I have a pet peeve about how the ordinary citizen is addressed, say, in a doctor's office. I am always ‘Mary', which I sometimes don't hear because I have a double first name which is Mary Jane. Granted my name is not easy but I could be referred to as Ms. Jones which never happens even if the speaker is 20! Is this lack of effort to call someone by their rightful name because there is overall very little respect for anyone anymore?"

My explanation, for this all too common phenomenon, is that people simply don't realize that something as simple as how we refer to one another is the very essence of showing respect. I believe we are more consumed with "I" and "me" and thus end up taking the easy way out of conducting ourselves. Without  guidance and social education, people will continue to ignore showing one another a sense of decency. There is also carelessness about not listening to or paying attention to what a person's name is. It creates a perception that the individual just doesn't matter.

My advice to anyone who thinks this detail really goes unnoticed and doesn't matter is that they are absolutely wrong. There is nothing more personal than one's name. Getting it wrong sends shock waves through most people. This is why it is so important to take the time and make the effort to focus on a person's correct name and title. And if you don't know the person, it is a good idea to call them by their last name (surname) preceded by Mr., Miss, Mrs. or in my opinion, the unfortunate Ms. Only when someone gives you permission to call them by their first name is it okay to do so. If you are introduced by a third party using first names then it is acceptable to use a first name.

In a professional setting, there is nothing wrong with using formalities. In fact, it is down right rude not to in most cases. Even when going to see your doctor, refer to him or her as ‘doctor'. You are seeing them as a professional and they should be addressed accordingly. Similarly, receptionists should not call you by your first name. Familiarity of this sort screams disrespect.

We like it when we are called by our name. In fact, we are annoyed when people get our names wrong. Using one another's name is a sign of respect. It shows that you matter and that someone has taken the time and effort to remember your name. Addressing someone by their proper name lets that person know that they stand out in your thoughts. Though memory does not always serve us well and we can forget names from time to time, simply admit that you have forgotten a name, apologize and ask for their name again. Since this happens to all of us, it should not be considered bad form. Remember the cardinal rule of recognizing the intent behind what we say. We don't purposely forget names and should not be chastised for it.

I recommend paying close attention to how we address each other. As it matters to you how you are introduced and spoken to, it matters to everyone else too. We all deserve the same level of respect. This simple act goes a long way in making the communities in which we live and work more civilized.

Jay Remer is certified by the Protocol School of Washington as a consultant for corporate etiquette and international protocol. He lives in St. Andrews, NB, Canada. E-mail your etiquette questions to jay@etiquetteguy.com and visit his website at www.etiquetteguy.com.

http://www.respectfulworkplace.com/blog/2010/02/forms-of-address-more-informal-more-familiar-not-appropriate/

(Darlene Furst stands with the food FurstStaffing Team members donated for a local pantry in honor of Darlene's birthday)

The gift could not have been better.  The FurstStaffing team donated food to a local food pantry in honor of my recent Christmas time birthday.  The cartons supporting the food you can see are also full.  To the FurstStaffing team I truly appreciate and thank you for your thoughtful gift which will help serve those in need in our community.      Darlene

You have probably received this information in a forwarded email.  It is a very easy way to thank our troops.  It literally takes 1 minute to do.  Here is a little bit about the program & the link.  http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3^® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops^®.

Xerox is committed to helping people across the nation express their gratitude to our troops overseas. The launch of this program is aimed at reminding them how much Americans appreciate their service.

Searching for a job can suck if you constrain yourself to the typical tools such as online jobs boards, trade publications, CraigsList, and networking with only your close friends. In these kinds of times, you need to use all the weapons that you can, and one that many people don't-or at least don't use to the fullest extent, is LinkedIn.

LinkedIn has over thirty-five million members in over 140 industries. Most of them are adults, employed, and not looking to post something on your Wall or date you. Executives from all the Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn. Most have disclosed what they do, where they work now, and where they've worked in the past. Talk about a target-rich environment, and the service is free.

Here are ten tips to help use LinkedIn to find a job. If you know someone who's looking for a job, forward them these tips along with an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Before trying these tips, make sure you've filled out your profile and added at least twenty connections

1. Get the word out. Tell your network that you're looking for a new position because a job search these days requires the "law of big numbers" There is no stigma that you're looking right now, so the more people who know you're looking, the more likely you'll find a job. Recently, LinkedIn added "status updates" which you can use to let your network know about your newly emancipated status.

2. Get LinkedIn recommendations from your colleagues. A strong recommendation from your manager highlights your strengths and shows that you were a valued employee. This is especially helpful if you were recently laid off, and there is no better time to ask for this than when your manager is feeling bad because she laid you off. If you were a manager yourself, recommendations from your employees can also highlight leadership qualities. 

3. Find out where people with your backgrounds are working. Find companies that employ people like you by doing an advanced search for people in your area who have your skills. For example, if you're a web developer in Seattle, search profiles in your zip code using keywords with your skills (for example, JavaScript, XHTML, Ruby on Rails) to see which companies employ people like you.

4. Find out where people at a company came from. LinkedIn "Company Profiles" show the career path of people before they began work there. This is very useful data to figure out what a company is looking for in new hires. For example, Microsoft employees worked at Hewlett-Packard and Oracle.

5. Find out where people from a company go next. LinkedIn's "Company Profiles" also tell you where people go after leaving the company. You can use this to track where people go after leaving your company as well as employees of other companies in your sector. (You could make the case that this feature also enables to figure out which companies to avoid, but I digress.)

6. Check if a company is still hiring. Company pages on LinkedIn include a section called "New Hires" that lists people who have recently joined the company. If you have real chutzpah, you can ask these new hires how they got their new job. At the very least you can examine their backgrounds to surmise what made them attractive to the new employer.

7. Get to the hiring manager. LinkedIn's job search engine allows you to search for any kind of job you want. However, when you view the results, pay close attention to the ones that you're no more than two degrees away from. This means that you know someone who knows the person that posted the job-it can't get much better than that. (Power tip: two degrees is about the limit for getting to hiring managers. I never help friends of friends of friends.) Another way to find companies that you have ties to is by looking at the "Companies in Your Network" section on LinkedIn's Job Search page.

8. Get to the right HR person. The best case is getting to the hiring manager via someone who knows him, but if that isn't possible you can still use LinkedIn to find someone inside the company to walk your resume to the hiring manager or HR department. When someone receives a resume from a coworker even if she doesn't know the coworker, she almost always pays attention to it.

9. Find out the secret job requirements. Job listings rarely spell out entirely or exactly what a hiring manager is seeking. Find a connection at the company who can get the inside scoop on what really matters for the job. You can do this by searching for the company name; the results will show you who in your network connects you to the company. If you don't have an inside connection, look at profiles of the people who work at the company to get an idea of their backgrounds and important skills.

10. Find startups to join. Maybe this recession is God telling you it's time to try a startup. But great startups are hard to find. Play around with LinkedIn's advanced search engine using "startup" or "stealth" in the keyword or company field. You can also narrow by industry (for example, startups in the Web 2.0, wireless, or biotech sectors). If large companies can't offer "job security," open up your search to include startups.

11. Build your network before you need it. As a last tip, no matter how the economy or your career is doing, having a strong network is a good form of job security. Don't wait until times are tough to nurture your network. The key to networking (or "schmozing"), however, is filled with counter-intuitiveness. First, it's not who you know-it's who knows of you. Second, Great schmoozers are not thinking "What can this person do for me?" To the contrary, they are thinking, "What can I do for this person?" For more on schmoozing, read "The Art of Schmoozing."

    ---

Read more: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html#ixzz0Xn4tpgTi

Please participate in our unscientific, anonymous poll via twtpoll

When do you feel job recovery/creation will occur?

Vote here:  http://twtpoll.com/t3c3md

If you have a young adult in your household, and you did not previously determine them eligible under your health insurance plan, read this information carefully. Based on this information, employees may need to submit enrollment forms before December 31st for their adult children for coverage effective January 1, 2010.

A new state law allows young adults to be able to receive coverage through their parents' health care plan. This week the Governor announced an emergency rule from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) clarifying how eligibility is determined for adult children up to age 27. 

The most notable clarification is how to determine whether or not your adult child, who is working and eligible for health insurance coverage through his/her own employer, can be added to your state insurance plan. To determine eligibility, the amount of the adult child's premium contribution is to be compared to the additional amount you are required to pay for inclusion of the adult child under your policy.  (i.e. If you already have the family plan, then the additional premium amount to add a dependent is zero. Therefore, if your adult child's premium contribution is greater than zero, they are eligible to enroll.)

NOTE: This does not change the information about the imputed taxable income, which is separate from determining eligibility of the adult child.  Select this link to see how the imputed taxable income will effect your check. http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/uwpc/2010/imputed_income.html

Another notable clarification pertains to the eligibility of an adult child over age 27 that is a full-time student and was called to federal active duty in the National Guard or in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. The rule clarifies that if your adult child applies to an institution of higher education as a full-time student within 12 months from the date he/she has fulfilled their active duty obligation then they become an eligible dependent for insurance purposes. 

As a result of the enactment of the rule and these noted changes, the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) has updated the "Children to Age 27 Q&A" on its website at: http://etf.wi.gov/publications/dependent_mandate_2010.pdf.  Revisions and new information are flagged. As mentioned above, ETF has extended the enrollment period for adult children. Employees need to submit enrollment forms before December 30, 2009 for coverage effective January 1, 2010.

One other consideration that doesn't affect coverage: Tax dependency may be established using several methods including, but not limited to qualifying children and qualifying relative(s). IRS Publication 501  provides the criteria for determining tax dependency. If you have any questions concerning the tax status of any dependent, please review Publication 501 and consult your tax advisor.

If you have a young adult in your household, and you did not previously determine them eligible under your health insurance plan, read this information carefully. Based on this information, employees may need to submit enrollment forms before December 31st for their adult children for coverage effective January 1, 2010.

Should CEOs Post Photos on Facebook?

By rachel zupek on Nov 5, 2009 in Featured

My co-worker over at The Hiring Site sent me an interesting article this morning about a CEO named Chip Conley posting some questionable photos on his Facebook site. I think it's going to spark an interesting discussion...

Background: Conley is the CEO and founder of Joie de Vivre, a company that operates a collection of boutique hotels in California. He started the business 22 years ago when he was just out of college. Today, it's a $230 million company with more than 3,000 employees and 38 properties.

In a recent article on BNet.com, Conley discusses how his PR agency recently set up a Facebook page for him, along with a fan page, to promote his new book.

"I accepted pretty much anyone who "friended" me, including plenty of employees, and gradually I began posting the usual Facebook fodder - links to articles, quick takes on books, emotional missives. My profile picture - a business-casual blazer-and-collared-shirt look - was uploaded by my PR team as well," Conley said.

While meeting with his "cultural ambassadors" - employees who represent each hotel - to create a social media policy for the company, an issue was brought to his attention: His employees were uncomfortable with some of Conley's Facebook photos.

The controversy: You see, Conley recently attended Burning Man, a weeklong anything-goes festival. Upon his return, he posted six photos on his Facebook page, two of which show him shirtless. In one photo, Conley dons a tutu; in the other, a sarong. In addition to posting these to his page, he also changed his profile picture from a professional shot to one of said shirtless pictures. (See below).

Of choosing this picture, he says:

"I'm just not a blazer kind of guy. I consider myself a rebel. My first book -The Rebel Rules: Daring to Be Yourself in Business - preaches the value of authenticity in business, of being true to yourself. So a few pictures on my Facebook page that show me having a good time? I honestly didn't give it a second thought."

His employees, however, did give it a second thought. At the meeting to discuss the company's social media policy, Conley was told that his young staff members didn't like seeing their CEO in a tutu. He was also told that staffers were concerned about some of his Twitter updates, in which he expressed anguish over the demise of an eight-year relationship.  Essentially, employees felt that Conley was setting a double standard by creating a social media policy at the company for everyone except him.

Conley doesn't feel he is violating any policy; he stands by the fact that he is simply being true to himself. Plus, he attests that the social media policy is mainly to protect the guests of his hotels. If a celebrity is staying at one of his hotels as a guest, for example, his staff members aren't allowed to Tweet about it. When it comes to posting pictures or Tweeting, Conley says it's case by case, but for the most part, as long as an employee isn't posting pictures of himself stealing something while wearing the company uniform, it's considered the employee's private life.

So, what do you guys think? Should CEOs be held to a different standard than their employees? Should they have the freedom to post whatever photos they want? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

You may have received this via email...thought it was, pretty amazing!

The Amazing Cucumber This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.  Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?  Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminu m to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drives garden pests crazy and makes them flee the area.
5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool?  Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes?  Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints?  Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a "green" way to clean faucets, sinks or stainless steel?  Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean.  Not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won't leave streaks and won't harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayon and marker that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

The ICE campaign is spreading beyond your cell phone.

If you're in a car accident and unable to communicate, emergency responders can now scan your Illinois driver's license or identification card to retrieve your emergency contacts. The only catch is that you have to go here to add your loved ones. Do it right now; it takes less than two minutes.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2009/10/drivers-license-illinois.html